Summer is in full swing and by now, your garden is probably showing the first signs of your hard work; your efforts are paying off. Keeping up with a garden can be both, time consuming, and difficult– especially if pesky raccoons are ruining the fruits of your labor.
So, just how do you insure your garden will not only be plentiful, but pest free, too?
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, there are a variety of “ideas” to keep your garden raccoon free; the most practical being, build a fence around your garden. It goes on to say…
“Beware though, raccoons are agile and intelligent; make sure your fence will keep them out. You may need to install an electric fence. This is a good measure. A two-wire fence, with one wire four to six inches above the ground and the other at 12 inches, should be effective.”
Even with a well-constructed fence, you’ll find raccoons are highly intelligent animals. And though they usually prefer areas with trees and a water source, some are brave enough to raid a neighborhood garden simply because they are an easy source of food.
Another pro-active way to thwart raccoons is to scatter blood meal or wood ashes around your plants. Also, grinding garlic, mixed with equal portions of chili powder, is said to do the trick. Keep in mind, though, this remedy requires frequent applications.
Oscar Carmona, owner of Healing Grounds Nursery offers a free instructional video on keeping not only raccoons, but other pests like rabbits, out of your garden, too.
Of course, you can shop for a variety of traps that will also take care of your ‘coon problem. We advise you use extreme caution when going this route, as most “pests” become highly-agitated and aggressive when caught in a trap.
It’s always best to contact a professional if your raccoon problem is more than just the occasional nighttime vegetable thief. Raccoons are known to be carriers of rabies, roundworms and leptospirosis. All of which can be transmitted to humans and other pets. Though a rabid raccoon attacking a human is rare, it does happen.
Prevention and Precaution is Best
The old saying goes, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” ― Benjamin Franklin. The best way to keep raccoons out of your garden is to first avoid attracting them. Keep your garden as clean as possible and remove any fruits and vegetables that have fallen to the ground.
Stow away trash containers in a garage or other closed-off area. Also, if you have outdoor pets, don’t leave their food out overnight. Raccoons love cat/dog food! And lastly, don’t intentionally feed raccoon visitors. Though they may be cute, raccoons can be quite dangerous.
When all else fails, call the pros-- experience trumps even the smartest pests, every time.
Your Raccoon Removal Experts,
Get Raccoons Out
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